To continue the tale of pots made when there’s a deadline! The pots were all dry by Sunday so I started the bisque. Monday saw the kiln cooling and my poor cousin braved pouring rain to visit in Port Moody. She lives in Ontario – I’d really like to get there again – and also reconnect with my good buddy from Medalta, Brenda Sullivan. Anybody there need a workshop or slide talk?

On Tuesday I was able to empty the kiln, wax and glaze all the pots, reload and leave the kiln warming very slowly to dry them all out – while I drove in to Vancouver in the late afternoon. Pouring rain again. Cousin Dennise is staying at Granville Island Hotel so the plan was to take her to Gallery of BC Ceramics and Circle Craft.

First I stopped in at the Ceramics Dept of Emily Carr to donate two non-bird jugs for the students Ceramics Auction soon. Had a nice chat with Paul Mathieu in his office. I distracted him from preparing his next power point presentation. I must try to get to that auction – as usual he is donating a couple of vases and they go quickly!

With chatting and supper with several relatives who’d congregated we didn’t get to the galleries but Dennise knows where to go when she has a break from meetings over the next couple of days. Turned the kiln to 100 degrees per hr at 10pm.

Wednesday morning: The kiln had a 20-minute soak at 1922 F, cone 04 and turned itself off at 2pm. Meanwhile the washing-machine in my studio died the other day so while it is pulled out from its home I decided to paint the floor. You know how that goes. I used up the remainder of the acrylic latex floor paint on a large part of the studio area. Feels great but I didn’t take the stoneware out of its bag.

And now, this evening, the TriCity Potters meet at 7pm at Port Moody Senior Secondary School. 5 of our members who attended a Residency at Zhing de Zhen last October will be showing us images of their adventure. Do join us!